A Leg to Stand On: Trauma Center Designation and Association with Rate of Limb Salvage in Patients Suffering Severe Lower Extremity Injury

BACKGROUND: Mangled extremities are one of the most difficult injuries for trauma surgeons to manage. We compare limb salvage rates for a limb-threatening lower extremity injury managed at Level I versus Level II trauma centers (TCs). STUDY DESIGN: We identified all adult patients with a limb-threatening injury who underwent primary amputation or limb salvage (LS) using the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program database at ACS Level I vs. II TCs between 2007 and 2017. A limb-threatening injury was defined as an open tibial fracture with concurrent arterial injury (Gustilo Type IIIc). Multivariable analysis and propensity score matching were performed to minimize confounding by indication. RESULTS: There were 712 records for analysis; 391 (54.9%) LS performed and 321 (45.1%) underwent amputation. The rate of LS was statistically higher among patients treated at Level I TCs versus those treated at Level II TCs (47.4% vs 34.8%, p=0.01). Patients with penetrating injuries (13% vs 9.5%, p=0.046) and tibial/peroneal artery injury (72.9% vs 50.4%, p